Ireland were given a cricketing lesson by the West Indies as they went down to a nine-wicket defeat in their latest Twenty20 warm-up game at the Oval in London, writes RTÉ Sport's John Kenny.
Ireland's big tormenter was the West Indian captain Chris Gayle who was in no mood to make singles.
Instead, he hit the luckless Irish bowlers all around the ground, making 88 off only 55 deliveries as his side chased down Ireland’s total of 130 with four overs to spare.
Phil Simmons' side won the toss and decided to bat. The Irish coach made four changes to the side that beat the Netherlands at Lord's on Monday, bringing in Niall O'Brien, John Mooney, Andrew White and Alex Cusack for Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Regan West and Peter Connell.
Ireland lost their captain William Porterfield in only the third over, caught in the gully by Kieron Edwards off the bowling of Fidel Edwards for just five.
Niall O'Brien steadied things when he came in to join Jeremy Bray hitting 22 off 21 deliveries including four fours before he was out with the score on 39 after seven overs.
Bray went onto make 30 before he was bowled by Sulieman Benn in the 11th over with Ireland on 69 for three.
Kevin O'Brien made 20 and John Mooney a quick fire 23 of 21 balls including the only six of the innings as Ireland ended their 20 overs on 130 for seven.
The West Indies never looked in trouble in reply and only lost their first wicket in the seventh over when Andre Fletcher fell for 19 off the bowling of Kyle McCallen.
After that Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who made 25 not out, battered the Irish attack to take the West Indies to a comfortable win.
Ireland's final warm-up game is against South Africa on Thursday before they head to Nottingham for their two Group A games against Bangladesh next Monday and India two days later.
